Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1887-05-26
RICHARD SYKES.
The English Capitalist Again in
America.

The English Capitalist Again in
America.
Richard Sykes OF Manchester, England,
arrived in jamestown yesterday from
Edgeley, LaMoure county, where in
company with Mr.. g. T. Legg, his resi-
dent manager in Dakota, he has been in
specting the improvements and crop out
look on the great Sykes farms. Mr..
Sykes owns land and ,cultivates it more
extensively than any one in this portion of
the James river valley and his success in
the past years under Mr.. Legg's active
management, has been, excepting the dry
season of 1886, satisfactory and profitable.
Their farms are conducted in every detail
after the most approved and economical
system Of farming. Every mans time is
correctly accounted for as well as the
time of the stock and cost of material, re-
pairs, etc. Intelligent experiments are
constantly made, in cropping the land
and it is true to say that no more careful
or successful farming, has been accom-
plished IN this portion OF Dakota than
has been done on the Sykes farms. Mr..
Sykes makes an annual trip to America
about this season of the year and is
thoroughly posted on American topics.
He came here directly from Lakewood,
Ia, where the company has. a large stock
farm and is also extensively engaged in
farming. His observation is that North
Dakota is looking better this year by far
than last. The grass seems greener and
heavier and the crops are certainly in far
better condition. Mr.. Sykes states that
the herbage in LaMoure county growing
on the prairie this year would feed many
herds OF cattle if it could only be utilized.
He goes from here to Sykeston and will
return in few days.
Concerning the ramor that the North
ern Pacific Railroad company would de.
fleet it's Southwestern extension now un-
| der construction, mile or so north OF
Edgeley townsite Mr.. Sykes said:
| 4 have Just been to st. Paul and have
assurances from Mr.. Oakes that on &C.
count of the excellent water which is ap.
parently inexhaustible at Edgeley the
Northern Pacific road will run through
that towns1te instead of branching off as
it has been stated it would. The officials
of the Milwaukee road and the Northern
Pacific officials have about concluded
that one good station in that portion o1
LaMoure county would be preferable tt
two inferior ones. Edgeley will be ths
crossing of the Northern Pacific and vii
no doubt make q thrifty, enterprisine
little town."
Mr.. Sykes stated that people in thi
! portion of Dakota were already in tn
position that the citizens Of northwestern
Iowa and Southern Dakota are clamorinI
for, vlz-direct connection with Duluth
He said Duluth appeared to be kind o.
craze with people who had no acquain
tance Herewith and it's market privileges
we're bound, sooner or later to help this
country. According to Mr.. Sykes it is
only question of time when Dakota vii
have the matter of fruits and trees
definitely settled as among her acquisi-
tions. In Russia, with similar climate
great numbers of hardy fruit trees which
have been found adapted particularly tc
that climate are readily grown. Likewise
| hardy varieties of trees, both of which are
clearly possible in Dakota.
In railway building for the present
year Mr.. Sykes thought there would be a
| great deal yet done in Dakota because il
is now easy to secure money to b11llC
roads through uninhabited portions and
then bond them at "a profitable figure.
But he thought that if the railway com.
panies did not induce and bring
make paying return for the money in
vested in the roads collapse of some
kind must occur soon.
The genial capitalist is one of the best
posted men who has landed interests in
the northwest and his remarks on these
subjects are always regarded with inter-
est and attention.